Signal lamp for vehicles



June 23, 1925.

L. M. LAROSE s`IGNAL.LAMP Fon VEHICLES Filed not. 5. 1923 Patented .lune 23, 1925.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LE@ mi. LAROSE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ISREAL WEINSTEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL LAMP Fon VEHICLES.

Application led October 5, 1923. Serial No. 666,714.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEo M. LAnosr., a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Signal Lamp for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to signal devices for vehicles, and more particularly to devices for use upon taxicabs and the like for indicating whether or not the vehicle is available for hire.

llt is the object of the invention to provide a si al device having the natureof a sign, prelerably illuminated, and adjustable from a substantially vertical position, in which it may be easily read, to a` substantially horizontal position preventing reading of the sign.

. The invention consists also in a provision for expediting assembly of the si and for facilitating its installation in a v'e 'cle.

A preferred' embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and is illustrated lin the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fi 1 is a view in side elevation of the sign installed upon a vehicle and in its posi-` tion of adjustment indicating availabilityof the vehicle for hire.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken upon line 2-2 of Fig. 1..

`lig. 3 is an end `view of the signal, adjusted to its stored or n'on-indicatlng position.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showin oneyof the pivotal connections between e signal and its supporting hangers. Y

In these views the reference character 1 designates a rectangular casing formed preferably of sheet-metal and having op osed elongatedy openings 2 in its Yside walls, in which openings arevitted glass plates. 4 designates a sign which is inscribed uponv each of said plates in any suitable manner adaptedv to be illuminatedl by light originating within the casin and passing through the plates,.said sign aving any suchwording as will indicate availability of the vehicle to passengers. A source of light is arranged within the casing to illuminate the si 4, said source ordinaril bein an electric bulb v5 engaging a suita le soc et 6. It is preferredto mount said socket invone of the side walls of the casing 1,.mdway between the ends of the casing and above the level of the openings 2. Below.y the bulbA 5 provision is made for reflecting the light rays emanating therefrom through both of the openings2. Thus, as seen in Fig. 2, a sheet metal plate 7 is folded to a V-form and is arranged with its'apex uppermost in the lower portion of ythe casing. The lower edges of said plate are formed with oppo, sitely projecting flanges 7 which are rigidly connected by solder or other means to the bottom 8v oi the casing. The longitudinal edges of the bottom piece 8 are upturned as indicated at 9 to retain the glass plates 3, and flanges l0 uponthe end members of the casing exercise a similar function. 11 designates flanges formed upon the side walls of the casing along the upper edges 'of4 the openings 2 -orming seats and a backing for the plates 3, asbest seen in Fig. 2. The double reflector member 7 and the bottom piece 8, to which said member is rigidly secured, form an Yassembly unit which is attached to the remaining portion of the casing 1 by a pair of bolts 12,the heads 13 of which are engagedv in the bend of the member 7, said bolts projecting up throughthe respective end portions of the casingand being engaged above the casingl by' suitable clamping nuts 14. Said bolts and nuts are employed also to secure to the top of the casing 1 a sheet metal strapl, the'ends 15' of which are upturne'd and pivotally connected by pins 16 to a pair of hangers 17. The latter are attached to such a portion 18 ofthe vehicle as will allow either the driver or conductor of the vehicle to readily reach the device, and which will further permit the sign to be readily read byvprospective patrons of the vehicle. With the pivot pins 16, there are associated means for holding the casing yieldably either in the vertical position of use shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or in the horizontal stored position shown in Fig. 3. Thus each hanger is formed with ribs 19 diametrical to the corresponding pin 16, and the upstanding strap ends 15 are formed with corresponding transverse i11- dentations 2O also radial to the pins 16. A spring 21 is coiled upon each of said ins and exerts pressure upon the correspon ing end 15 to hold the same firmly against the 'corresponding hanger 17 WhenV the casing 2 is vertical, a rib 19 of each hanger engages in an indentation 20 of the corresponding member 15', and in the: horizontal or, stored position of the casing the relatively transverse ribs 19 and grooves 20 are in engagement. In either of said positions, the springs 21 resist disengagement of the ribs 19 and grooves 20 and consequently tend to maintain the casing 1 in whichever limiting position it may occupy.

From the preceding description vit will be evident that the invention provides a signal device which is well adapted for both day and night use, and which, by its position of adjustment, will indicate clearly to the public whether or not the vehicle is available to passengers.

What I claim is:

1. In a signal device, a casing, a source of light in the upper portion of said casing, and a V-shaped double reflector within said casing belowsaid source of light, the walls of said reector converging upwardly toward said light source and being rigidly secured to the casing bottom at their diverged edges, and a headed member securing said reflector to the top of the casing, the head of said member being engaged within the angle formed by the convergent walls of the reflector.

2. In a signal device, a casing, a source of light within said casing, signs carried by the casing at opposite sides oflsaid source of light, a reflector member secured in a unitary relation to the casing bottom, a support for the casing exteriorly engaging `the top thereof, and a member extending through the casing top, engaging said reflector member 'and said support, securing said member' and support in place and acting through said reflector member to hold the casing bottom in position.

"13. In a signal device, a casing, a source of light within said casing, signs carried by the casing at opposite sides of the source of light, a reector member secured to a wall of said casing and projecting between said signs, a. support for said casing, exteriorly engaging a wall of the casing opposite to that from which said reflector member projects, and a clamping connection between said reector member and said support retaining the same in their positions of assembly and acting through said reflector member to hold in its assembly position the wall from which said memberprojects.

In testimony whereo` I sign this specification.

LEO M. LAROSE. 

